Lighthouse work was a dirty job, cleaning polishing and painting.
This cleaning coat or apron is from the White River lighthouse on Lake
Michigan. Front view.

Cleaning was a constant job at the lighthouse. Keeper's were required to
keep everything polished and in top notch shape. District inspectors would
stop by the station to do inspections and see how things were running at
each station. Keeper's could also earn an efficiency star from the district
inspector for keeping a lighthouse in top condition and having no problems.
This star was awarded to the keeper even though many family members helped
in these chores.

If a keeper kept a top notch lighthouse for consecutive
years they could also be awarded a commissioner's efficiency star which was
a real prize. You can view an efficiency star under the uniform section of
this web site. These were prestigious awards for the keeper's.

Cleaning
coats or aprons were necessary so keeper's would not get their uniforms
dirty. They needed something that paint and polish would get on, but not matter
because it was not personal clothing or their unifrom. The regulations stated that no
watches, jewelry, belt buckles or sharp objects be on your person while
cleaning and polishing the lens for instance. The glass was the heart of the
lighthouse and as such if it were scratched or chipped it would lose its
effectiveness. As you will notice on this coat, no medal buttons or sharp
objects exist. It was all cloth with buttons and covered below the waist line to
protect against anyone wearing a belt buckle underneath the coat.

As with
all objects in the lighthouse service, even the coat was marked with a US
Lighthouse Establishment die as seen below in the last photograph. This coat
came from the White River Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. Nobody that we know
of has ever seen another one of these coats in existence. As it was used
for cleaning, it was readily discarded in the trash, making this a truly
remarkable find.

The following is excepted from Jim Claflin's recent
article in Lighthouse Digest Magazine.

This extremely
rare piece may be one of a kind today, as most surely were lost or discarded
years ago. Cleaning was a constant job at the lighthouse. Keepers were
required to keep everything polished and clean at all times, while still
maintaining their uniforms clean as well. For this reason, the Service
provided cleaning coats or aprons to protect their uniforms.

Cleaning coats or aprons were necessary so keepers
would not get their uniforms dirty. Such coats could be used while
performing lens cleaning duties, aprons while painting and performing other
chores. In addition, the coat or apron protected the expensive lens from
being scratched as the keeper worked around it cleaning or refilling the
lamps, etc. The Lighthouse Service required that no watches, jewelry, belt
buckles or sharp objects be on one’s person while cleaning and polishing the
lens. The glass was the heart of the lighthouse and as such if it were
scratched or chipped it would lose its effectiveness.

The 1902 Instructions to Light-Keepers noted that “When
the light is extinguished in the morning the keeper must hang the lantern
curtains and immediately begin to put the apparatus in order for relighting.
While doing this the linen aprons provided for the keeper’s use must be
worn, that the lens may not suffer from contact with the wearing apparel.”
The lens glass was extremely delicate and daily cleaning was required.
However, it was important that it be done in just the right manner. Indeed,
even wiping the dust improperly could scratch the lens. The regulations
continued: “Before beginning to clean the lens it must be brushed with the
feather brush to remove all dust. It must then be wiped with a soft linen
cloth, and finally polished with a buff-skin. If there is oil or grease on
any part it must be taken off with a linen cloth, moistened with spirits of
wine, and then polished off with a buff-skin. Under no circumstances must a
skin which has been wet or damp be used, as this will scratch the lens.”

The coat is made of a fine patterned linen, without
metal buttons. Its construction was of all cloth with two buttons, and hung
well below the waist line to protect against a belt buckle or button
underneath the coat. As with all objects in the Lighthouse Service, even the
coat was marked, bearing a large circular “U. S. Lighthouse Establishment”
marking as seen in the photographs. Indeed, even the linen cleaning rags
were marked with a similar marking, to insure that they were not removed and
used for other purposes.

Jim Claflin is a recognized authority on antiques of the U.S. Lighthouse
Service, Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service and early Coast
Guard. In addition to authoring and publishing a number of books on the
subject, Jim is the owner of Kenrick A Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques.
In business since 1956, he has specialized in antiques of this specialty
since the early 1990’s. He may be contacted by writing to him at 1227
Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01602, or by calling 508-792-6627. You
may also contact him by email:
jclaflin@lighthouseantiques.net or visit his web site at
www.lighthouseantiques.net

Rear view of the cleaning coat.

Close up view of the stamp of the Lighthouse Establishment. Even
cleaning rags were marked property of the Lighthouse Establishment to ensure
they were not used for other purposes.